EC sets dates for by-elections for Lord Mayor and expelled MPs

The roadmap for the preparations of Parliamentary, Local Government Council and Mayoral elections in regard to the by-elections; was announced by the Commission’s chairperson Eng. Badru Kiggundu at a press briefing in Kampala.

The Electoral Commission (EC) has this morning announced April 17 as the date it will hold by-elections for the vacant positions of Kampala Lord Mayor and in the four constituencies that were formerly represented by four expelled NRM rebel MPs.

The roadmap for the preparations of Parliamentary, Local Government Council and Mayoral elections in regard to the by-elections; was announced by the Commission’s chairperson Eng. Badru Kiggundu at a press briefing in Kampala.

To that effect, Eng. Kiggundu called upon all interested parties to submit in their applications with two recent passport photos to the office of the chairperson, Electoral Commission located on plot 55 Jinja Road or to their respective District returning officers before Tuesday 14 April.

He also said the nominations of the candidates will take place on March 31 and April 1 at designated venues in each of the affected constituencies.The build up to these by-elections; follows the controversial impeachment of Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago late last year by 29 KCCA councillors while MPs; Theodore Ssekikubo of Lwemiyaga County, Barnabas Tinkasimire (Buyaga County), Muhammad Nsereko (Kampala Central) and Wilfred Niwagaba (Ndorwa County East); were expelled from NRM over alleged indiscipline early in 2013.

Subsequently, the MPs were recently thrown out of Parliament following the orders of the Constitutional Court on grounds that they were there illegally.

The affected constituencies that will have these by-elections include; Buyaga West, Kibaale District, Kampala Capital City Authority, Lwemiyaga County, Ssembabule District and Ndorwa County East, Kabale District.Eng. Kigguddu has also banned any form of fundraising activities in the above mentioned constituencies; a move he said is aimed at levelling the ground for all intending candidates in the race.

When asked whether the Commission is alive to the fact that there are court cases pending in regard to the four expelled MPs and the Lord Mayor, he replied: “ We got instructions from KCCA informing us that the position of the Lord Mayor is vacant and we also got a letter from the Clerk to Parliament telling us that the positions of the four constituencies were vacant following a court judgment”

He added: “For as we follow instructions and if there is another order instructing us to stop conducting the by-elections, we are law abiding citizens,” .

The Commission said over Shs2billion has been earmark to hold these by-elections.